Agro-forestry, fishery exports top 16 bln USD

Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery export turnover reached 16.4 billion USD in the first eight months of this year, a year-on-year rise of 34.2 percent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Among agricultural products, rice was the most outstanding commodity, with a total export of 5.4 million tonnes worth 2.7 billion USD, representing a year-on-year increase of 9.4 percent in volume and 14.6 percent in value.

The Philippines continued to be Vietnam’s leading rice importer, followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, Cuba and other new markets such as Senegal, Bangladesh and Ivory Coast.

During this period, the whole nation exported 958,000 tonnes of coffee, earning 2.1 billion USD, up 12 percent in volume and over 72.2 percent in value, and 449,000 tonnes of rubber worth 1.9 billion USD, increases of 4.1 and nearly 70 percent, in volume and value, respectively.

Due to rising demand from major markets like China and Japan , since the beginning of this year, the nation has earned 2.4 billion USD from exports of wood and wooden products, up 13.5 percent.

The agricultural sector forecast that from now until the end of this year, exports of agro-forestry and fisheries will face difficulties due to the fact that non-tariff protective measures for these commodities have been lifted and commodities have been managed under technical standards.

This year, the sector targets the promotion of quality products and the export of 23 billion USD worth of agro-forestry and fishery products, surpassing the record 19.2 billion USD set last year.